Association News

Meeting addresses amusement ride safety standards.

Press Release Summary:

Nov 05, 2009 -
From October 15-17, more than 100 attendees, including representatives from 8 countries participated in meeting in Toronto, Canada, held by ASTM International Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices. Event encompassed nearly 40 technical meetings to review existing standards as well as new standards in development. A broad spectrum of issues ranging from restraint design to aquatic play elements and trains were addressed.

Original Press Release

ASTM Amusement Ride Safety Standards Committee Meets in Toronto

Press release date: Oct 29, 2009

Committee F24 Announces New Canadian Standard

W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., October 29, 2009-More than 100 attendees, including representatives from eight countries as far away as New Zealand, participated in a meeting in Toronto, Canada, held by ASTM International Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices from October 15 to 17.

The event encompassed nearly 40 technical meetings to review existing standards as well as new standards in development. A broad spectrum of issues from restraint design to aquatic play elements to trains were addressed. Len Morrissey, director, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International, commented, "The excellent international representation in the meetings reinforces the wide application of ASTM standards throughout the world. Having a wide array of active international participants is essential to assure that we're meeting the standardization needs of global amusement ride industry." Of particular note, it was announced that the efforts of a task group of international members had resulted in the successful introduction of a brand new standard that allows the country of Canada to incorporate ASTM F24 standards with specific additions that respect local codes. The new standard, developed through a formal partnership with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), is seen as a model for widespread global adoption of the ASTM safety standards.

It was also announced that the entire suite of F24 standards has been translated into French Canadian and is now available on the ASTM Web site (www.astm.org). Jim Seay, chair of Committee F24, noted, "The successful efforts of the Canadian task group demonstrate that there is a clear path for global dissemination and use of ASTM's well-respected safety standards." The next full Committee F24 meeting will take place Feb. 11-13, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. The event has been scheduled to coincide with the Florida State Fair, one of the country's premier state fair events, which is being held in Tampa the same week.

ASTM International Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices was established in 1978. The scope of the committee is the development of standard methods of test, per­formance specifications, definitions, maintenance, operations, and practices and guides for amuse­ment rides and devices. Membership in the committee is open to all who are passionate about safety in the amusement industry.

Visit the F24 Web site (www.astm.org/COMMIT/COMMITTEE/F24.htm) for more information. ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit http://www.astm.org/JOIN.

ASTM International is one of the largest international standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions.